Table 1.
Characteristics of the included studies
| Author(s) and year of publication | Phenoma of interest | Study population | Mean age in years Sex, n (%) female |
Method of data collection (expectations) Timing of measurement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patients undergoing spinal surgery | ||||
| Accardi-Ravid et al. (2019) [15] | Preoperative and postoperative experiences of spine surgery including perioperative expectations, emotional experiences, long-term recovery, postoperative outcomes, interest in perioperative psychosocial interventions, and potential barriers and facilitators to participating in an intervention | 14 patients who had spine surgery |
57.3 (SD 15.7) 6 (42.9) |
Semi-structured interviews 2–12 mo post-operatively |
| Lattig et al. (2013) [16] |
Preoperative expectations of the short-term results in relation to pain, pain medication usage, sensory and motor function, and the ability to work, do household activities, and participate in sports Patient-surgeon discrepancies in expectations |
241 patients (15-90y) undergoing spine surgery |
62 (15) 133 (59) |
Survey After preoperative consultation |
| Licina et al. (2012) [17] | Expectations of the surgical treatment (level of back and leg pain, and disability), and satisfaction with postoperative results | 145 patients scheduled for primary, single-level surgery for degenerative lumbar spine conditions |
54 (15) 54 (37) |
Survey Preoperatively | 6 w/6 mo post-operatively |
| Mancuso et al. (2014) [18] | Long-term expectations of surgery as measured with the 20-item Hospital for Special Surgery, and associations with demographic, clinical, and psychological characteristics | 150 patients (≥18y) scheduled for cervical spine surgery |
55 (13) 59 (39) |
Interview (about survey) Preoperatively |
| Mancuso et al. (2015) [19] | Associations between expectations as measured with the 20-item Hospital for Special Surgery, Lumbar/Cervical Spine Surgery Expectations Survey, and demographic, psychological, and clinical characteristics | 420 patients (≥18y) scheduled for lumbar spine surgery |
55 (15) 181 (43) |
Interview (about survey) ±7 d post-operatively |
| Mancuso et al. (2016) [20] | Preoperatively stated expectations as measured with the 20-item Hospital for Special Surgery, Lumbar/Cervical Spine Surgery Expectations Survey and fulfillment of expectations post-operatively | Patients (≥18y) scheduled for lumbar (n = 366) or cervical (n = 133) spine surgery |
Lumbar: 55 (SD 15) 157 (43) Cervical: 54 (SD 13) 51 (133) |
Survey: ±7 d preoperatively Interview (telephone): 2 y post-operatively |
| Mancuso et al. (2017) [21] | Patient and clinical characteristics, including the 20-item Hospital for Special Surgery, Lumbar/Cervical Spine Surgery Expectations Survey, and pain improvement post-operatively | 422 patients (≥18y) scheduled for lumbar spine surgery |
56 (15) 190 (45) |
Interview (structured): ±7 d preoperatively Interview (telephone): 2 y post- operatively |
| Mannion et al. (2009) [22] | Preoperative expectations as measured with a modified version of the “expectations scale” of the North American Spine Society (NASS) Lumbar Spine Questionnaire, changes in symptoms, and expectations being fulfilled | 100 patients (>45y) with lumbar herniated disc or spinal stenosis, indication for decompression surgery without fusion |
65 (SD 11) 33 (33) |
Survey Preoperatively | 2 mo/12 mo post-operatively |
| McGregor et al. (2013) [23] | Preoperative expectations (e.g. state of health and their levels of back and leg pain) and importance of achieving this level of recovery, and satisfaction with the short and longer term outcome of surgery (in terms of pain and QoL) | 316 patients scheduled for lumbar decompression or discectomy because of lateral nerve root compression or lumbar disc prolapse |
range 53–55 170 (54) |
Survey Preoperatively | 6 w/6 mo/12 mo post-operatively |
| Rehman et al. (2019) [24] | Preoperative expectations and the spine surgeon’s perspectives regarding treatment understanding, postoperative outcomes and information required for informed decision-making |
12 patients (≥18y) with sciatica, scheduled for surgical decompression 6 surgeons |
Patients: median 48 (range 24–74) 5 (43) Surgeons: median 50 (range 45–68)- |
Semi-structured interviews 3–4 w after consultation, but preoperatively |
| Rönnberg et al. (2007) [25] | Relationships between baseline characteristics and expectations of surgical results (leg pain, back pain, sensibility, return to work), and satisfaction with provided care and given information | 148 patients who had undergone surgery for a one-level disc herniation on the L4 –L5 or L5–S1 level |
40 (range 18–66) 68 (46) |
Survey Preoperatively | 2 y post-operatively |
| Saban and Penckofer (2007) [6] | Relationship between preoperative expectations of QoL, and postoperative perceived QOL and level of satisfaction and optimism | 57 patients (≥18y) undergoing elective lumbar surgery for the first time for degenerative changes, herniated disks, or both |
53.4 (SD 13.6) 30 (52.6) |
Survey 2–14 d preoperatively | 3 m post-operatively |
| Soroceanu et al. (2012) [26] | Relationship between expectations as measured with the Musculoskeletal Outcomes Data Evaluation and Management System’s (MODEMS) expectations survey, and outcomes in the cervical versus the lumbar spine population | 402 patients undergoing lumbar or cervical spine surgery |
52.9 (15.2) 226 (56.3) |
Survey Preoperatively | 6–12 w post-operatively |
| Toyone et al. (2005) [27] | Patient expectations of spine surgery including relief of leg pain, leg numbness and low back pain, and limitations in walking ability and activity of daily living, and the level of fulfillment of those expectations | Patients undergoing lumbar disc herniation (n = 49) or lumbar spinal stenosis (n = 49) |
Disc herniation: 36 15 (31) Spinal stenosis: 67 22 (45) |
Survey Preoperatively | 2 y post-operatively |
| van der Horst et al. (2019) [28] | Pre-operative expectations and perceptions, and post-operative experiences (e.g. limitations in daily functioning due to their back pain, other health complaints) | 12 patients (≥18y) who had spinal fusion in last 6 mo |
- 6 (50) |
Survey 0–9 mo post-operatively |
| Yee et al. (2008) [29] | Expectations of surgery (regarding relief of back and leg pain, relief of numbness/weakness/instability, their ability to sleep, recreational and daily activities, and return to work), and its association with patient factors, baseline preoperative functional outcome scores and patient-reported improvements in functional outcome after surgery | 143 patients undergoing decompression and/or spondylodesis (spinal fusion) |
52 (range 18–84) 50% |
Survey Preoperatively | 6 w/3 mo/6 mo/12 mo post-operatively |
| Yoo et al. (2019) [30] | Preoperative expectations and postoperative outcomes, and the effect on postoperative satisfaction | 101 patients (>18y) undergoing 1- or 2-level minimally invasive spinal lumbar fusion surgery for degenerative pathology |
57 43 (42.6) |
Survey Preoperatively | 6 mo post-operatively |
| Patients receiving advanced cancer care | ||||
| Bergerot et al. (2019) [31] | Association between expectations of cure and QoL, anxiety and depression | 60 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma or prostate cancer |
65.1 (SD 13.1; range 31–91) 19 (31.7) |
Survey Prior to immunotherapy and before counseling from their oncologist |
| Chen et al. (2013) [32] | Expectations about the goals of, and likelihood of cure from radiotherapy | 384 patients with incurable lung cancer (stage IV or IIIB) |
median: 63 154 (40) |
Telephone survey 4–7 mo post-diagnosis |
| Chow et al. (2001) [33] | Illness understanding and expectations of palliative radiotherapy | 60 patients with advanced cancer, referred for palliative radiotherapy |
median 68 (range 46–90) 30 (50) |
Survey Pre-consultation |
| Chow et al. (2007) [34] | Expected level of pain reduction, and influence of bone pain and having undergone the treatment on this expectation | 217 patients (≥18y) with bone metastases, treated with palliative RT |
median: 66 (range 28–88) 87 (40) |
Interview Pre-radiation | 2 mo post-radiation |
| Craft et al. (2005) [35] | Understanding of the intent of their treatment (to monitor illness, improve QoL, control illness or cure illness) and that their illness was life-threatening, and sources of information | 163 patients (>18y) with advanced cancer |
- 89 (55) |
Survey Week 1 and 12 |
| Doyle et al. (2001) [36] | Patient expectations and perceptions of benefit | 26 patients with recurrent or refractory advanced ovarian cancer, undergoing 2nd or 3nd line chemotherapy for |
median: 55 26 (100) |
Surgery Before chemotherapy |
| Friedlander et al. (2014) [37] | Symptom burden, and expected and perceived benefits of chemotherapy | 126 patients with platinum resistant ovarian cancer and a life expectancy of > 3 mo, scheduled for chemotherapy |
62 (range 30–89) 126 (100) |
Survey < 2 w before chemotherapy | before each cycle | 4 w after 4th cycle |
| Gramling et al. (2016) [38] | Association between talking about expectations for length of life during inpatient palliative care consultations and rates of hospice enrollment | 101 hospitalized patients (>21y) with metastatic cancer, referred for palliative care consultation |
- 50 (43.5) |
Audio-recording of the consultation |
| Mitera et al. (2012) [39] | Illness understanding and expectations of palliative radiotherapy | 100 patients with advanced cancer, referred for a palliative radiotherapy consultation |
66.2 (11.3) 44 (44) |
Survey Pre-consultation / Post-consultation |
| Nowicki et al. (2015) [40] | Understanding and expectations of treatment, and socio-demographic factors | 100 patients with lung cancer and a life expectancy of > 6 mo, undergoing palliative chemotherapy and an |
63.1 (range 40–80) 34 (34) |
Survey ? |
| Sjoquist et al. (2013) [41] | We explored associations among expected improvement, hope and indices of well-being, and perceived symptom benefits of chemotherapy | 126 patients (≥18y) with recurrent and progressive ovarian cancer and a life expectancy of ≥3 mo |
62.1 (9.8) 126 (100) |
Survey Prior to chemotherapy | first four treatment cycles | 4 w post-treatment |
| Sze et al. (2006) [42] | Factors important in decision making for whole-brain radiation therapy for patients and caregivers | 20 patients (or caregivers) with brain metastases within the past 2 mo, consideration of brain radiotherapy |
median: 62 (range 50–72) 5 (25) |
Open-ended, semistructured interviews Within 2 w after consultation |
| Visser et al. (2018) [43] | Satisfaction with therapy as measured with the Cancer Therapy Satisfaction Questionnaire (CTSQ), and patient- and treatment-related factors and patients’ feelings about adverse events | 65 patients with locally advanced or metastatic stage IIIB/IV nonsquamous NSCLC, undergoing chemotherapy |
62.1 (7.9) 50 (50) |
Survey During 4th cycle of chemotherapy |
| Weeks et al. (2012) [44] | Expectation that chemotherapy might be curative and associated clinical, sociodemographic, and health-system factors, and physician communication | Patients with stage IV (i.e., metastatic) lung (n = 710) or colorectal cancer (n = 483), opted to receive chemotherapy |
- Lung: 476 (67) Colorectal: 396 (82) |
Structured interview 4–7 mo post-diagnosis |
d days, mo months, NSCLC Non-small-cell lung carcinoma, QoL quality of life, SD standard deviation, w weeks, y years